Guide:

Quand

Où

Accès:

The route will be off the pathways. The route is not suitable for strollers or other wheeled vehicles.

The riverbank at Andrew Haydon Park

Description

Martha Webber at Jane's Walk 2011

Bring the kids, and come prepared to leave the main paths!

A walk for children of all ages who are ready to explore some of what Martha calls the more interesting parts of the park.
So many delightful hidden corners! Depending on what nature makes available to us as we go on our walk, activities may include making cat-tail boats
from leaves and floating them down a shallow stream, identification of four-footed nocturnal guests by their tracks in the mud, checking out the
wild edibles in the park, including serviceberry and mulberry trees, wild
grapes, wild cherries, etc. There are fossils along the rocky shore,
and an amazing walk through giant weeds where ash trees were taken
out from very fertile soil.

Enter Andrew Haydon Park at the traffic signal at Carling & Holly Acres Road. Take the sharp right, go down the hill and to the left. Park parallel to the entrance road. The walk will begin nearby.

Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Route

We will meet at the parking lot in Andrew Haydon Park, and will walk along the riverbank and beside a small stream. We won't be following a path, so be prepared to get a bit muddy. Hiking boots or sturdy shoes are recommended. Rain boots may be called for if the weather is wet.

We will start our walk not on a trail but exploring the amazing growth and potential of giant "weeds"" that have come in since ash trees were clear cut. We will then walk to the marina end, and loop back along the river and return to the parking lot.

About

Martha Webber is a local researcher and educator. She has run children's nature day camps at Andrew Haydon Park for years. (This year's camp will be Families in Nature.) This walk is based on some of the activities from the day camps. In 2007, the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club's presented Martha with the Mary Stuart Education Award.